The Federal Government today begins its search for a leader in its efforts to close the gap on health, education and housing for Indigenous Australians.
The Government is advertising the position of Coordinator-General for Remote Indigenous Services, to pull together the various initiatives announced during the week.
They include nearly $60 million to tackle eye and ear health and $46 million for aged care, as well as housing, construction and employment programs.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Thursday there has been progress in the past 12 months in closing the gap in the living standards between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
The Opposition says there is nothing in the report card to suggest Mr Rudd’s claims of advancement are true, and the Greens agree.
But there has been a more positive response from some Indigenous advocates.
Head of the CRC for Aboriginal Health at Charles Darwin University, Mike Gooda, said yesterday the Government’s plans to fund two free health checks over the next four years for half of Indigenous people aged between 16 and 55 will make a difference.
“It’s really important that we get our people to basically empower themselves with their own health issues,” he said.
“To get in there to take control, otherwise the health system will take control and when you have heart attack or a stroke that’s when the health system takes control.
“They’re trying to encourage people to take control themselves and take some responsibility for their health as well.”